Co-defendants in Morris twins assault trial sentenced to jail time

NBA players Marcus and Markieff Morris and former college-football player Gerald Bowman were acquitted on Oct. 3, 2017, of all charges stemming from a January 2015 assault. Robert Gundran/azcentral.com

Two men who were co-defendants in an aggravated assault case alongside NBA players Marcus and Markieff Morris have been sentenced to 60 days in jail.

Christopher Melendez and Julius Kane pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in September. The Morris twins took the case to trial and were acquitted in October.

Per the plea agreement, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Pamela Gates on Thursday sentenced Melendez to three years of probation and 60 days of deferred jail time, according to officials.

Kane's 60 days of jail time commences immediately.

Police said the beating victim was in Phoenix at a youth basketball game when he was assaulted in 2015. The man claimed the Morris twins were part of the group that physically attacked him, but the brothers denied the allegations. Ultimately, a jury found them not guilty.